A bill regulating ride hailing companies like Uber and Lyft has passed out of a legislative Committee and on Thursday was placed on the Senate calendar for further action. The measure would require each transportation network company to pay drivers at least 75-percent of the money collected from each rider for prearranged rides, and not keep more than 25-percent of the total moneys collected for any driver on any day. 

The company would also not be allowed to discriminate against drivers or group of drivers organizing for better treatment and working conditions.  Each company operating in Connecticut would have to report to the Commissioner of Transportation the total number of prearranged rides completed by its drivers during each quarter, the total amount of money collected from riders and the total amount of money paid to its drivers for those rides. 

New Milford state Senator Craig Miner, a ranking member of the Labor Committee, opposes the bill.  He says it would be hard to certify which company was being billed if a driver is working for both Uber and Lyft.  He added that sometimes state government can't fix people's complaints with private companies, and in those cases, people should look for a different job. 

New Fairfield Representative Richard Smith says it's not the obligation nor the purview of thew committee to set the rates for transportation fees.  He says it's free market issues.